Enchanted N.H

Chapter 36

Time flies by and I wish we could stay longer but Niall needs to get back to the studio and I need to go back to work.
It's the last night we have here and Niall sneaks me out of the house, his parents fell asleep on the couch while watching a crime show on TV so we quietly close the backdoor and head out.
"I need to show you something", he takes my hand and leads me to the little hut in the yard where his dad keeps his tools for gardening.
Niall takes two horse blankets from an iron shelf and hands one to me.
"I don't want you to get cold", he smiles and I take his hand again, he is so thoughtful and caring.
We run down to the small path behind the backyard and climb up the grassy hill.
"Where are you taking me Horan?", I giggle, he turns back to me, his cheeks are flushed from the cool November air and his eyes shimmer bright in the pale moonlight coming from the full moon.
"Just wait babe", he smiles cheekily  and continues to walk.
The landscape is beautiful, I can't imagine what it's like growing up in such a magical and beautiful town.
"We are here", he stops and places the blanket he was holding on the slightly damp grass and waits for me to sit down next to him.
"My dad used to take me here when  I was feeling down", he speaks softly.
We lay down on the blanket and I cover us with the second one, my head is resting on  his jacked covered chest but if I listen closely I swear I can hear his heartbeat.
"Look at the stars", I whisper in amazement.
We are swallowed by darkness, there is no unnatural light around us just the bright and shining stars and the round, full moon illuminating us.
I have never seen the stars so bright before and I can't tear my eyes away from the beautiful sky.
"One day I want to move back here, with you and raise our kids here, we wouldn't have to worry about anything anymore", Nialls warm breath is soothing on my cool skin and I snuggle deeper into his strong chest.
"One day", I repeat sleepily and close my eyes for a second.
I can picture us, with two little kids chasing each other up and down that hill, Niall with his arms wrapped around me and a chuckle leaving his lips.
"I want to stay with you forever", I whisper and he kisses me.
Soft and longing at the same time and all I want is to keep this moment in my head forever, so that I am able to replay it when we are both old and grey and it will remind me how young we are and how full of love.
Niall sneezes and I lift my head from his chest and get up "we should go back inside, no need for you to get sick babe", I tell him with a sigh, it is too cold for us to stay longer even though I wish we could.
"I don't want to go back to London", he admits, I can't see his face but I know that he is trying to hide how upset he is.
"We'll come back at Christmas, I promise", I tell him sweetly and wrap my arms around his torso.
It's hard to walk down the hill while holding Niall but I need him close, we take a while until we arrive back at the house and we hesitate before walking in.
"I hope this moon stone ring works, I dont ever want to lose you Vic", Niall plays with the ring on my hand before kissing the stone and interwining our fingers.
"I don't want to lose you either".
Maura is awake when we sneak back inside and she is furious when she hears Niall sniffle.
"Kitchen", she demands and closes the door to the living room where Bobby is still asleep on the couch, the TV is silently playing a quiz show, the blue light reflecting his face.
"What were you two thinking, it is freezing outside", she hisses and boils water in the kettle to prepare some tea and hot water bottled for Niall and me.
"I had to show her the stars Ma", Niall defends himself like a little boy and Mauras facial expressions soften.
"You two are so in love", she gushes and kisses Nialls forehead before handing us two boiling hot cups of herbal tea.
"It smells like rabbit food", Niall complains as the scent hits his nose and Maura shakes her head.
"You will drink this, or you will be sick for the next few weeks Niall Horan".
I chuckle and Niall kicks me under the wooden kitchen table.
"Now off to bed, I hope your suitcases are packed already, we need to leave early tomorrow", she frowns when she mentions our flight back to London and I reach over to place my hand on top of hers.
"We will be back at Christmas", I tell her the same thing I told her son a couple minutes ago and she smiles lovingly at me.
"You will", she says quietly before rushing us upstairs and into bed.
I place my ring next to the moon stone on Nialls window sill and open the blinds a tiny bit so the full moon can illuminate both.
"Didnt know you believe in things like this", he remarks and places his head on my shoulder while looking at the ring and the gemstone.
"I don't really believe in things like this, it's just that I can't believe I am here with my amazing boyfriend and his loving family and there is not even a little magic involved in all of this", I speak truthfully and add "I was enchanted the first time I met you Niall".
"Me too".
In bed we hold each other close, warming us up from the cool air and I gently trace my fingers over his sleepy face.
"This is too good to be true", I whisper but he is asleep and I don't even want him to respond.
I know that this is special and I need to hold on to it for as long as I can.